Insects images for Audubon Institute Insectarium

Audubon Insectarium Bombardier Beetle detail

Time period shown: Modern

About this image: Bombardier beetles are common summer-time residents in southwest New Mexico, and seem to love to congregate under the water tanks near Karen's barn.

Did you know?
Wikipedia offers a great glimpse into these fascinating beetles:

The mechanism works like this: Secretory cells produce hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide (and perhaps other chemicals, depending on the species), which collect in a reservoir. The reservoir opens through a muscle-controlled valve onto a thick-walled reaction chamber. This chamber is lined with cells that secrete catalases and peroxidases. When the contents of the reservoir are forced into the reaction chamber, the catalases and peroxidases rapidly break down the hydrogen peroxide and catalyze the oxidation of the hydroquinones into p-quinones. These reactions release free oxygen and generate enough heat to bring the mixture to the boiling point and vaporize about a fifth of it. Under pressure of the released gasses, the valve is forced closed, and the chemicals are expelled explosively through openings at the tip of the abdomen. Each spray consists of 70 very rapid pulses, causing a loud cracking sound similar to a bursting balloon. The spray can be aimed with precision in any direction, including forward over its back. This is done by bouncing the spray off a pair of skeletal reflectors stuck from the tip of its abdomen at the moment of ejection. This effectively deters predators, often causing blindness or death, and can be painful to human skin.

Karen in the classroom

— As a guest speaker or lecturer

In addition to the time she spends painting, Karen finds time now and again to serve as a guest speaker, lecturer and instructor to museum groups, professional organizations, schools and universities. She has also presented master classes in art and digital painting at universities in the U.S.

Karen has delivered recent presentations for these institutions and groups:

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Southern Methodist University

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators at the College of William & Mary and at Montana State University

New Mexico Highlands University

University of Texas at Arlington

University of North Texas

Dallas Paleontological Society

Originally trained in the classical techniques of illustration and painting, Karen frequently speaks on the transition to a digital world, and on the challenges and benefits this transition poses for artists, clients and viewers. She conducts professional seminars on painting, illustration and digital image creation, and also offers specific programs tailored to the needs of professional groups or classroom instructors.

To contact Karen about a speaking engagement, just drop her a note or call her studio.